Brilliant Gameologists

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• D&D Song thanks to Irthos Levethix!
• WTF Camels?? thanks to Bear Swarm Rob!
  

Linkages!:

• We have some great projects on our Message Boards!
  • Food for Thought Master Thread
• Zeke once again added to background noise with his pug PJ
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• Cognitive Coaching
• High/Scope Educational Approach
• Catch Phrase (the game)
• Zeke loves the movie Rounders
• Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.  ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Problem Solving #2) The list of Do’s

• Communication Musts
• Mediating a problem at the table
• Solving a problem you’re involved in
  • Full list available on the Message Board post

Ideas from the episode:

• It is your fault

Trivia:

Last week’s answer is revealed! Which one of us had rats as pets?

This week’s question: Which one of us was once accused of buying a suit for a gorilla?

Reminders-

• We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter, Josh’s Twitter and Zeke’s Twitter.
• Join our Facebook Group!
• Check out Meg’s Facebook Page!
  
• Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit. It is intended for adult audiences.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (44.0MB)

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Aww!  This dog wants to catch the squirrel of his dreams so badly!
• Do you remember the Watchmen Saturday Morning Cartoon?
• We retold our Writer’s Retreat in Las Vegas stories.  Funnier than any link we could follow.

News!:

• We went to Jiffycon
• Josh went to Unclemonsterface
• We are going to Icon
• We went to Las Vegas on a writers retreat
• Strippers are cool, some of them are from Hawaii
• Meg went to St Louis
• People from St Louis are surly
• Bearswarm Rob is cool
• Luke is awesome (and an awesome doctor)
• Adam is a wholly owned subsidiary of Melina Enterprises
• Adams Dad is cool
• Lap Children
• Meg is too much of a pussy to describe Serenity on mic.
• And is really nice in describing the Serenity adventure
• Zeke is now forbidden to drink during the podcast (that’s what that noise is).

Meg played:

• Cold War – Confusing
• Bohnanza – Incredible
• Inspectres – Really Good
• Serenity – Utter Shite

We ask for feedback

Problem Solving #1) The list of Don’ts

1 – Criticize someone while talking to them

“if you weren’t so lazy or stupid we wouldn’t have these problems.”

criticizing, blame, judgments, put downs, diagnoses

2 – Deny responsibility

Putting responsibility on some thing else (a person thing or institution)

“Daddy and I are splitting up because you cry”

take responsibility for your own actions

3 – Use words that imply evaluation not observation

“I feel raped”

I statements are shit

attacked, blamed, criticized, insulted, isolated

4 – Fail at active listening

No autobiographical statements – don’t “one up” them

“You think you have it bad…”

No inquisitive questions – don’t interrogate them

”really? How far up the ass?”

5 – Try to solve their problems

“What you need to do is grow a beard”

this is “problem solving” not “actually solving problems”

(more…)

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Note: Sorry for the delay in this episode.  We had a lot going on.  Josh was in the hospital (twice), Meg had quick trips out of state (twice) and Zeke got a dog (just once, but he’s awesome enough for two).  We have the next two episodes all recorded and just need to edit and get them out, hopefully on schedule!

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Jonathan Richman’s I was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar
• Clitter!

Icebreaker:

Strange sources of inspiration for gaming

• Zeke was inspired by Tweeter and the Monkey Man and Moist Towellets
  
• Meg wants to make a game based on Rocky Raccoon
• Josh likes movie credits
• Our guru, the always inspirational, Vince.

How to Min/Max Part 1:

Before listening, you should be familiar with

• Min/Max Basics
• The joy of Min/Maxing

The Rinse-Wow Method

Note: To compete this exercise, get a piece of paper and something to write with along with your normal character creation supplies

The Rules:

1. There are no rules
2. Never Cram
3. Don’t try to do everything
4. Be flexible
5. Cast a wide net
6. Hold nothing sacred

Defining Terms

1. Goal- What you’re trying to accomplish in a character, your intentions for that character
2. Element- The choices you make in terms of system specific stuff.  The building blocks of character generation.

How to Start:

Step 1: Initial Arbitrary Decision

• Get inspiration!

IAD’s can fall into several categories

• A specific race or class or other game element (put on element side)
• A game mechanic or concept
• A background or dramatic concept

Brainstorm and Stormbrain

Follow the Steps:

Download your own sheet here!

Trivia:

Last week’s answer is revealed! Which one of us was kicked out of catechism?

This week’s question: Which one of us uses a ballet inspired dance program?

Reminders-

• We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter, Josh’s Twitter and Zeke’s Twitter.
• Join our Facebook Group!
• Check out Meg’s Facebook Page!
  
• Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit. It is intended for adult audiences.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (42.4MB)

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Funny or Die’s Mystique is Pregnant
• Funny or Die’s 40 Inspirational Speeches in Two Minutes
• A montage of the Best Viral Videos of 2008. Must be seen to be appreciated:

News:

It’s Meg’s birthday this coming Saturday, January 10th!  To celebrate, we are having our first special LIVE episode this Thursday, January 8th!  Come on in and chat with us in real time!  See this blog post for more information.

Icebreaker:

Podcast resolutions!

• Meg wants more charts and graphs and wants to say “douche” and “fantastic” less
• Josh wants to do more reviews
• Zeke wants to party like it’s 1999.

7 Gaming Resolutions

Get your own bingo card and play along! Get Bingo (or “GAMER” as we eventually decided) and get your very own Official GAMER card! We’re playing too! Track our progress on our message boards.

1. Play New Games- a new story game, new action-adventure game and a new tabletop game.
2. Pay it forward- convince someone new to play a game.
3. Put together a character you wouldn’t normally consider
4. Learn how to play a game differently- use a mechanic you normally avoid, find a new way to solve an old problem or find new problems to solve.
5. Play with strangers 3 different times (in order to get all 3 checks- playing once with 3 new people doesn’t count!)
6. Go to a convention- a regional con (under 500 people), a state con (500 or more people), and a national con (2,000 or more).
7. Why so serious??
   1. Play a crazy game
   2. Convince others to play a game crazy
   3. Put together a fun/silly character in a real game
   4. Do something fun and unexpected in a game
   5. Play with someone crazy or a stranger in a strange spot
   6. Let yourself out of the box- play a character in real life at a con

Reminders-

• The answer to last episode’s trivia question is contained! Think you know the answer to this week’s? Post on the thread about this episode here.
• We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter, Josh’s Twitter and Zeke’s Twitter.
• Lots of good stuff on our Facebook Page!
• Join our Facebook Group!
• Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit. It is intended for adult audiences.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB)

Note:

In celebration of our second “quarter” we are changing the format very slightly of the shows. Can you spot the difference?

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Walking on Air
• This is Halloween
  • In Japanese (stumbled on this one)
  • In Russian (we think this is the creepiest. Some of the voices are really scary, especially the creature under the stairs)

Our Fears

• Whale captured on video –Meg admits to her paranoia of whales. This video she had to watch through her fingers.
• Oarfish- They just shouldn’t be. Freaky.
• Parasites- Josh. He’s infected.
• Zombies- Zeke. He’s prepared, are you?

1. Cthulhonic

• Cthulhu Mythos
• Chaosium’s Call of Cthulu
• Meg’s fear of sea creatures comes in here.

2. The Undead

• Halloween (a poster on our forum)’s excellent post about “contrasting for horror”.
• 28 Days Later
• Cell by Stephen King
• Serenity
• Terminator

3. The Siren

• The Mythological Siren
• Dracula
• Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
• Little Shop of Horrors
• The Firm
• Star Wars

4. Sidhe

• The Celtic Sidhe
• The Borg
• The cenobites
• The Predator
• The Gripping Hand
• Ghosts

5. Nature

• Jaws
• Razorback
• The Perfect Storm
• Killer Bees
• Cujo
• The Happening totally sucked
• Those freaky whales!

6. Technological

• The Ring
• Security Systems gone awry
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Midnight Meat Train

7. Madness

• The Creepy Events Thread @ WOTC
• The Creepy Events Thread @ BG
• Possessions
• Sixth Sense
• Dogs in the Vineyard
• Werewolves

8. Odd

• Parallel Worlds
  • Sound of Thunder
  • Sliders
  • Knee Penises
• Stepford Wives
• The Matrix
• The Lottery
• Lost Boys

9. Primal Horror

• Jersey Devil
• Windigo
• Kelpie
• Spring-heeled Jack
• The Black Dog

Bonus!

• We each list our scariest creatures that weren’t mentioned.

Reminders-

We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!

Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit and is Not Work Safe. It is intended for adult audiences.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (66.9MB)

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Gaybar by Electric 6 for 2 reasons. 1) We love Electric 6 and are stocked about going to see them (again) on Fri 11/21in Cambridge MA at the Middle East. 2) Hotpants. It reminds us of one of the Brilliant Fanologists at Gencon who wore hotpants for Meg. Thanks Woodrow.

Icebreaker:

• DragonCon recap. Meg represented the Brilliant Gameologists at DragonCon and the Parsec Awards. Big thanks to Adam from the Podgecast for offering up hotel space and to Cam Banks from Margaret Weis Productions for a great conversation and Jamie Chambers, also of MWP, for socializing even though we trashed your game.
  • Listen to Meg talk about DragonCon during the con on the Podgecast DragonCon Recap!

Douchebag of the Week:

• +1 Guy

Main Topic:

Don’t be the 7 Dwarfs

1. Sleepy
2. Sneezy
3. Bashful
4. Dopey
5. Grumpy
6. Happy
7. Doc

Plugs

• Misspent Youth by Robert Bohl
  
• DragonCon TV
• New England Browncoat Yahoo Group

Reminder- we put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit and is Not Work Safe. It is intended for adult audiences.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (78.2MB)

Analogies are a way to illustrate a point, so listen as we compare GM’ing/ gaming to:

• Cooking
• Fantasy Baseball
• Directing and Producing a Play
• Surgery
• Running a Business which has a Board of Directors
• Dealing with old people
• Teaching 7th graders
• Alaskan crab fishing
• Supervising a manufacturing line
• Golfing
• Manually masturbating caged animals for artificial insemination
• Posting on message board about what gaming is like

Gaming is NOT like storytelling.

Sorry.

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

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The 7 Words you don’t say while gaming! Taken directly from George Carlin’s “7 Words You Can’t Say on TV”, these words are highly emotive and when you call someone one of these names at the game table, no good can come of it.

This episode talks about why heavy emotion is detrimental to logic, what you can say instead of just calling our fellow player a retard.

And the 7 words are…

Drama Queen (or Rigamarole Player), Power Gamer, Rules Lawyer, Munchkin, Metagamer, Railroad, Realistic, Fair

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

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Oh Yeah. Love, Romance and Boning.

Comprehensive Show Notes
Discuss this topic on our Boards

(more…)

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The subtitle of this episode should be “Trope on a Rope”. We go into tropes of grit, examples of grit and how to insert and inflict grit into your game design.

The follow up title should be “The Episode That Was Totally Cursed”. Several crashes meant a lot of this episode was lost several times. The re-records will do, but man did we have some funny shit the first time around. It also crashed during editing. At least it’s appropriate that the game on grit was tough, brought us to our wit’s end, and was truly just about survival.

The audio on this one is different than others too– we recorded in mono instead of stereo as an experiment requested from our Audio Engineer. I also “levelated” it afterwards, so please provide feedback!

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

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DadaDUM! It’s here, our initial episode about Min/Maxing. What it is, what it isn’t, and the dangers of spelling.

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

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